Velocipede



" a sheets-sheet 1-..

'(No Modeliy "E. G. 'LATTA.

VELOGIPBDE.

Patented NOV. 6

Irivenior.

n mus mwum n w, Washington, nip.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

Model.) B. G.

VELOGIPBDE.

No 892,349. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

. A j z Jnion 5551 asse N PETERS, Phmo-Liibog i m Washington D c (No Model.) 3 Shegts-Sheet 3. E. Gr. LATTA.

VELOGIPEDE.

No. 392,349. Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

Wiineawea: Inven0n I m mowuum m Washington o.c.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

EMMIT e. LATTA, or FRIENDSHIP, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE POPE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAINE.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,349, dated November 6, 1888.

Application filed February 3, 1888. Serial No. 262,925. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMMIT G. LATTA, of Friendship,in the county'of Allegany and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

One of the objects of this invention is to produce a tandem Velocipede which may be used as a tricycle. or be readily and cheaply converted into a bicycle, if desired, and which when in the form of a tricycle can be folded together or reduced in size when not in use, so as to require little storage-room. My invention has the further objects to improve the arrangement of the driving-gear and steering mechanism, to construct a strong and durable main frame for the machine, and to attach the front handle-bar in such a manner that it can be readily adjusted to different po sitions.

The invention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafter fully described,and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of three sheets, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved velocipede with one of the rear cranks removed. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine with the saddles removed and the handle-bars shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the main frame in line a: :v, Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional elevation of the steering mechanism and connecting parts on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section in line 3 y, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an interior elevation of the upper end of one of the arms or frames supporting the rear wheels. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the interchangeable rear wheel,

its fork, and spindle, which are employed when the machine is used as a bicycle.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A represents the driving-wheel, and A A are the steering-wheels.

The main frame is composed of two forks, B B, and a tubular frame, B, surrounding the upper'portion of the driving-wheel and forming the mud-guard thereof. The fork'B extends upwardly and forwardly from the bearing-boxes aof the drivingwheel to the mudguard B, while the fork B extends upwardly and rearwardly from said bearing-boxes to the mud-guard. The upper ends of the forks B B are brazed or otherwise secured to the mud guard, and their lower ends are secured to the lugs of the bearing-boxes a by horizontal bolts in the usual manner.

0 0 represent braces extending fromopposite sides of the bearing-boxes a to the lower ends of the mud-guard, to which they are secured, preferably by brazing. The mud-guard B is flattened on its inner side, and its outer surface is semicircular in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 3. This construction renders the width of the mud-guard about twice its thickness, and is superior to a mud-guard having a crescent-shaped cross-section, because from a tube of given diameter the guard can be made wider, which renders the same more efficient.

(1 represents the front crank-shaft, which is journaled in a lug formed at the lower front end of the mud-guard, and d is the rear crankshaft, mounted in a similar lug arranged at the lower rear endof the mudguard, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2. The crank-shaft d is provided with a sprocket-wheel, D, which is connected by a drive-chain, d", with a sprocket-wheel, e, mounted on the axle of the driving-wheel A on one side thereof. The crank-shaft d is provided with a sprocketwheel, D, which is connected by a chain, 6, with a sprocket-wheel, e", mounted upon the axle of the driving-wheel on the opposite side thereof. The sprocket-wheels D D are arranged on opposite sides of the mudguard, as

shown, so as to stand in line with the wheels F represents the front saddle, and F its supporting-pillar, which is composed of a horizontal bar, to which the saddle-spring is adj ustably secured by a suitable clamp, and an angular or inclined extension, j, which is adjustably secured in a clamp or divided forging, 9, formed at the upper end of the front fork, B

F represents the front handle-bars, which are adj ustably secured to the inclined extension fof the saddle-pillar. The handle-bars F are provided at their inner ends with a sleex e or collar which surrounds the extension f, and which is secured to the latter by a horizontal clamping-bolt, f, the inner end of which engages in a longitudinal groove formed in said extension, as shown in Fig. 1. Upon loosening the clamping-bolt)" the handle bars can be raised and lowered on the inclined extension f between the horizontal bar of the saddle-pillar and the clamp r The handlebar may be secured to the portion of the extension f below the clamp 9 when a very low position of the saddle and handlebars is desired.

II represents the rear saddle, and 11 its supporting-pillar, which is adj ustabl y secured in an upright tube or post, It. The latter is secured with its upper end in a socket or opening formed in a rearward extension, I. of the rear fork, 3, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and -11. The lower end of this tube is secured by brazing or otherwise to a step or bracket, '1', brazed to the mud-guard B below the fork-extcnsion I. The upper end of the tube-h and the adjacent portion of the extension I are split longitudinally, and a clamping-bolt, j, passes through the split portion of the extension, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, so that the tube hwill clamp the saddle-pillar upon tightening the bolt j.

K represents the rear handle-bars, K the handle-bar post, and 1C an upright tube in which the latter is adjustably secured. The tube K is arranged in front of the tube h, and is secured at its lower end in a socket formed in the fork-extension I, as shown in Figs. 3 and T.

L represents a tube firmly secured within the supporting-tube K", and in which the handle-bar post K is adj ustabl y secured by means ofa suitable clamping-ring, Z, the upper end of the tube L being split for this purpose, as shown in Fig. -.l. The tube L is provided at its lower end with a cross head or bar, Z.

M represents the steering-spindle, which is seated at its lower end in a bearing formed in the step or bracket i, and at its upper end in a bearing formed in an adjusting-screw, m, arranged in a screw-threaded opening formed near the rear end of the fork-extension L, and secured therein by a cheek-nut, m. The spindle M is provided near its upper end with lateral arms, forming a cross-head, m. This crossheadis connected with the cross-head Z of the tube L by connecting-rodsm. The latter are crossed, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to cause the spindle M to turn in an opposite direction from that ofthe handlebar post K. The spindle M is inclined backwardly to cause the front wheel, A, to cant orincline inwardly and prevent the machinefrom overturningwhcn passing around curves at a high speed. The handle-bar post 1i and saddle-pillar post It are correspondingly inclined, so that the connectingrods m will operate freely.

The rear wheels A A are each journaled lo the outer end of a tubular arm or reach, N. These arms N are provided at their front ends with circular bearing-plates a, which are secured to opposite sides of a lug, 0, formed on the rear side of the spindle M, by a horizontal bolt, 0, passing through the lug and plates. The lug O is made tapering or of gradually-increasing thickness from its front toward its rear end, and the bearing-plates n are constructed to fit against the sides of the lug, as represented in Fig. 5. The bolt 0 is curved or bent at its center, so that its ends pass th rough the plates n at right angles to the faces of the latter. The lug O and plates at are provided, 1'es 1 )ectively,with interlockingannulargrooves and tongues p p, which relieve the bolt 0 from shearing strains.

1)" represents lugs or stops formed at the front end of the bearing-plates a, and which bear against similar stops or projections, formed on opposite sides of the lug O, as represented in Figs. 1, 4, and 6. These steps limit the movement of the plates 22. upon the lug O and prevent the front ends of the tubular arms N from being depressed.

Upon loosening the nuts of the bolt 0 the arms N, with the rear wheels, can be swung downwardly and forwardly, so as to bring the same on opposite sides of the driving-wheel A and closely thereto, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The tapering sides of thelug 0 cause the arms N and wheels A A to swing inwardly toward the driving-wheel, thereby both narrowing and shortening the wheel-base of the machine, facilitating its transportation and storage, and enabling it to be passed through narrow doorways.

WVhen it is desired to convert the machine into a bicycle, the spindle M is removed from the main frame, together with the rear wheels and arms N, and a fork or frame having asingle wheel is substituted. Such a frame and wheel are represented in Fig. 7, in which Q, represents the fork carrying the wheel, and R is a steering-spindle arranged at the front end of the fork and made of the same dimensions as the spindle M, so as to fit into thebearings in the bracket i7 and adjusting-screw an. The spindle R is provided with a cross-head, r, similar to the cross-head Z of the tube L, and is connected with said cross-head by the rods m.

In a bicycle the folding feature of the frame of the rear wheel is unnecessary, and it is therefore omitted to reduce the weight of the machine and save expense.

The arms of the fork Q are each preferably formed with an extension, 8, having at its lower end an opening or hearing for ajournal, and an opening or bearing is also formed at the junction of these extensions and the fork-body, so that a small or a large rear wheel may be employed when the machine is used as a bicycle. These fork-extensions are inclined or arranged at an angle to the body of the fork, so that thejournal of a large wheel. arranged in the upper openings of the fork willbe located higher and farther forward than that of a smaller wheeljournaled in the lower openings of the fork. This construction avoids the necessity of lengthening the wheelbase or changing the position of the main frame when a large wheel is used. By this construction the machine may be purchased first in one form only, and, if desired, the attachment for converting the machine into a bicycle or tri cycle, as the case may be, can be procured afterward. If the tricycle is first obtained, it can be cheaply and readily converted into a bicycle by using one of the small rear wheels in the fork R; or, if the most satisfactory form of a tandem bicycle is desired, an additional larger wheel may be purchased any time afterward for the fork R and be applied thereto without extra expense. M

It is obvious that the folding featurejof the frame of the rear wheels is equally well adapted for single tricycles and such as have a rear driving-wheel-and front steering-wheels.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with a velocipede wheel and its fork or frame, of a tubular mudguard extending around the upper portion of the wheel and forming part of the main frame of the machine, braces extending from the lower end of said fork or frame to opposite lower ends of the mudguard, and crank-shafts supported, respectively, in the lower ends of the mud-guard, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the driving-wheel of a velocipede and a tubular mud-guard GX- tending around the upper part of the drivingwheel, of a saddle and d riving-gear supported by said mud-guard and arranged in front of the center of the wheel, and a saddle and drivinggear, also supported bysaid mud-guard and arranged in rear of the center of the wheel, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a driving-wheel provided with a sprocket-wheel on each side of its hub, of a tubular mud-guard surrounding the upper part of the wheel, crank-shafts journaled,respectively,iu the lower ends ofthe mud-guard,and each provided with a sprocketwheel, and drive chains connecting said sprocket wheels of the driving-wheel and arranged on opposite sides of the mud-guard, substantially asset forth.

4. The combination, with the driving-wheel and the mudguard, of a fork or wheel frame provided with arearward extension or bracket, a handlebar post and saddle-pillar post secured 'to said fork-extension, and a handle-bar shank and saddle-pillar arranged adjustably in said posts, respectively, substantially as set forth.

5. In a velocipede, the combination, with the main frame, a front driving-wheel, and a rear trailing wheel or wheels, of a saddle at tached to the main frame in front of the center of the front wheel, a saddle attached to the main frame in rear of the center of the rear wheel, and a steering spindle or head connect ing the frames of the frontand rear wheels and located substantially in the center of the machine. substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the main frame, a single front wheel,and a rear wheel or wheels,of a steeringspindle connecting the supporting frames of the front and rear wheel or wheels, and arrangedin rear of the f rout wheel, a steering-post arranged in front of said spindle, rods connecting the steering-post with the steering spindle, and an adjustable saddle-pillar arranged between the steering-spindle and the steering-post, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination,with the front wheel, a rear wheel or wheels, and the mud-guard provided with a step or bracket, of a fork provided with a rearward extension arranged above said step, a steering-post secured with its lower end to said extension, a saddle-pillar post secured with its upper end to said forkextension and with its lower end to said step, a steering-spindle arranged at its lower end in said step and at its upper end in an adjustable bearing arranged in the fork-extension, and a fork or frame supporting the rear wheel or wheels and attached to the steering-spindle, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the main frame and a saddle, of a saddle-pillar consisting of a horizontal bar upon which the saddle issup ported, and an inclined or angular bar at tached to the mainframe, and a handle-bar adj ustably secured to said inclined bar of the saddle-pillar, substantially as set forth.

9. In a tricycle, the combination, with the driving-wheel and its frame and the steeringwheels, of arms or frames supporting the steering-wheels and capable of being swung or folded on the frame of the drivingwheel, so as to bring the steering wheels on opposite sides of the front wheel, substantially as set forth.

10. The conibination,with the driving-wheel and its frame provided with a steering-spindle, of arms or frames supporting the steering- -wheels at their outer ends, and pivoted at their inner ends to said steering-spindle by a horizontal bolt, so that the arms and steeringwheels can be swung downwardly and inwardly, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of the driving-wheel and its frame provided with a bearing plate or lug having its sides or faces arranged at an angle to a vertical plane lying in the longitudinal center line of the machine, whereby said supporting-arms are caused to move inwardly when swung downwardly on their pivot, substantially as set forth.

12. The combinatiou,with the driving-wheel and its frame provided with a steering-head having a tapering lug, of arms or frames supporting the stecring-wheels and provided with tapering bearing-plates resting against opposite sides of said tapering lug, and a horizonhorizontal bolt, and interlocking tongues and 10 tal pivot-bolt connecting said plates and lug, grooves formed in said lug and bearing-plates, substantially as set forth. respectively, substantially as set forth.

13. The eombinat-iomwith the driving-wheel \Vitness my hand this 31st day of January, and its frame provided with a steering spin- 1888. die or head, of a tapering lug formed on said spindle, arms or frames supporting the steer- \Vitnesses: ing-wheels and provided with bearing-plates HERMAN RICE, pivotally secured to said tapering lug by a XV. \VARD RICE.

EMMIT G. L ATTA. 

